Exalting Terrorism Could Be A Crime

British House Of Commons Approves Bill

February 16, 2006|By Kevin Sullivan The Washington Post

LONDON — The House of Commons on Wednesday backed a bill that would make "glorification" of terrorism a criminal offense, a measure that Prime Minister Tony Blair called crucial to Britain's battle against religious extremists.

"Parliament has now sent out a very strong signal," Blair said in a statement after the 315-277 vote.

"I think that signal of strength is vital in circumstances where the threat that we face is not just from the individual acts of terrorism but the people who celebrate it, who try and entice other people or recruit other people into doing it."

The measure still must be approved by the House of Lords, which voted last month to strip the "glorification" clause out of the bill.

It was unclear whether the Lords would continue to object to the proposal on grounds that it infringes on civil liberties, or back down in the face of Wednesday's clear margin of victory in the Commons.

Two major free-speech issues have driven public debate: the conviction of radical Islamic cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri on charges of inciting racial hatred; and protests in Britain over a Danish newspaper's publication of cartoons of the prophet Muhammad.

Opponents of the Terrorism Bill called it unnecessary and noted that al-Masri was convicted under existing laws against inciting violence or racial hatred.

But Blair said police could have acted against al-Masri sooner if they could have charged him with "glorification" of terrorism.

Blair also noted that the law could have allowed criminal charges to be filed against people at the anti-cartoons protests who carried placards celebrating the attackers in last summer's London bombings.

The Terrorism Bill was introduced by Blair's government after July's bomb attacks on the London public transport system, which resulted in the deaths of four bombers and 52 passengers.

It has pitted defenders of Britain's long history of free expression against those, including Blair, who argue that religious extremists have taken advantage of Britain's tolerance to incite violence and hatred.